Popular gambling streamer Trainwreck, whose real name is Tyler Niknam, announced back in July that he’s taking a five-day hiatus from streaming after a brutal run of losses on Kick. The 34-year-old shared he lost $19.5 million while playing at Stake.com during his last five streams, an experience he described as “sickening”.
Commenting on the scale of his losses during a stream named ‘Max Win or Week Break – Pray Please,’ he said:
“I gotta force myself to just get off for the next f*cking week or something. Yeah, I lost 19.5 mil… 19.5 mil in the last five streams. I can’t even see straight, I’m shook, I’m actually fully shook, I’m fully f*cking shook.”
After only returning from another 3-month break on June 1st, Trainwreck had previously enjoyed a hot streak earlier this summer, where he won up to $9.6 million on Nolimit City’s Munchies slot. But that was short-lived, and he wiped out those gains and much more.
Mixed Reaction: From Support to Skepticism
A video posted by Train Clips with the caption “Don’t play. This is the reality of gambling” features highlights from Trainwreck’s gambling stream. And ever since, it has caused quite the stir online. While the warning seemed clear, the comment section was divided.
Some people were sympathetic, saying the decision to step back for mental health reasons was right. One person wrote:
“The right choice: your wellbeing matters more than the content.”
Others were not so convinced, accusing the streamer of staging losses for attention. one commenter said, “It’s all demo balance, just a show”.
This isn’t the first time Trainwreck has faced backlash over his casino content. In fact, before leaving Twitch in December 2022, he often addressed backlash over his controversial gambling streams on the platform. In one stream, he said:
“Everything I touch, people are pissed.”
Since he started, critics have been asking about the transparency of his partnerships, and Trainwreck says he plays with sponsorship money, but the wins and losses are real. In October 2022, he revealed he was paid $360 million for 16 months’ worth of gambling content.
The massive number reignited the debate about high-profile gambling streams and also brought to light the influence these deals have on viewers. Critics say these deals glorify risky behavior, especially when promoted on platforms tied to gambling operators. Defenders say Trainwreck has been open about his sponsorships and has made it clear he’s playing within a business framework and not hiding his earnings. The controversy continues to spark discussions about transparency, responsible promotion, and the role of regulation in the growing intersection of gambling and online entertainment.
A Growing Trend of Celebrity Gambling
Stake.com’s list of high-profile partners includes Grammy-award-winning and rapper Drake, who is reportedly paid $100 million a year. He is estimated to earn approximately $3.4 million per week on Kick.
Drake has been open about his losses, recently revealing he lost $8 million in a month after wagering with over $124.5 million. Like Trainwreck, he’s acknowledged the personal toll of these losses, posting on Instagram:
“Gotta share the other side of gambling… losses are so fried right now. I hope I can post a big win for you all soon ’cause I’m the only one that has never seen a max—these guys max once a week.”
It’s unclear if Stake encourages its influencers to show both the ups and downs of gambling. Fanatics Sportsbook recently featured Jay-Z losing a $1 million bet on the NBA Finals. He bet on the Oklahoma City Thunder to win 4-1 against the Indiana Pacers. Oklahoma City ultimately won the series 4-3.
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